1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place in a sewing factory in East Los Angeles and features five women working to fill an order of dresses. The dramatic situation they find themselves in is Estela’s ‘alien’ status, and the women’s rush to fill an order on time. They need the money from the order so Estela can pay a lawyer, not get sued and/or deported, and gain citizen status.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when all of the women start to show off their bodies to each other and strip down in the factory. After this, Ana is accepted, the women get closer, and the business of the order and Estela’s illegal status begin to be solved.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that Anna started working in the sewing factory. It takes place in her summer before college so that she can better compare her life to these women. It helps her develop an appreciation for the other women, the work that they do, and the work that goes into everything around her. It teaches her not to take things for granted, and it gives her something to write about for her fellowship essay.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
-Will the dresses be finished on time? -Will Estela get deported? -Will Ana become more in tune with the real lives of these women?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
The play starts with a me vs. another person with Ana because she has to work in the factory to help her family.
Ana also faces me vs. society dilemma. She feels trapped by societal norms and beauty standards and wants to break out of them and educate the women.
When Ana gets more accepted into the factory she also starts to have feelings of hatred towards the company that hired them to make the dresses because of their threats against Estela and refusal to pay. This is another me vs. another person.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
All the women are watching La Migra and worrying that they are going to get raided, but then they remember they are all legal. This is when they first learn of Estella still be illegal.
When Rosali faints it causes the deadline to get tenser and it becomes apparent that every woman in the factory is important, but it also helps show the real familial bond between the women as Estela and Rosali worry for each other.
At the end of the play when all the women strip down is when we really get a peek into the women and how they feel about each other, their lives, and their dreams of opening up a boutique. All this information comes out in less than five pages.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The numbers on the birthday cake -- This helps to hold on to the idea of breaking out of societal norms. It shows that age is but a number, and someone can beautiful no matter the number of their age, or even their weight, size, etc.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
-The plight of the undocumented worker and business owner -Breaking out of societal norms and beauty standards for women -The love and importance of family
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
This whole play is really about family, their allegiance, and love for each other, and growing to understand each other. The people who work together in that shop are family, and as it goes on we get to see them start to understand each other, namely Ana learning to appreciate all the work the women put into making the dresses and the importance behind this. It helps them become closer before Ana leaves.
The play takes place in a sewing factory in East Los Angeles and features five women working to fill an order of dresses. The dramatic situation they find themselves in is Estela’s ‘alien’ status, and the women’s rush to fill an order on time. They need the money from the order so Estela can pay a lawyer, not get sued and/or deported, and gain citizen status.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when all of the women start to show off their bodies to each other and strip down in the factory. After this, Ana is accepted, the women get closer, and the business of the order and Estela’s illegal status begin to be solved.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that Anna started working in the sewing factory. It takes place in her summer before college so that she can better compare her life to these women. It helps her develop an appreciation for the other women, the work that they do, and the work that goes into everything around her. It teaches her not to take things for granted, and it gives her something to write about for her fellowship essay.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
-Will the dresses be finished on time?
-Will Estela get deported?
-Will Ana become more in tune with the real lives of these women?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
The play starts with a me vs. another person with Ana because she has to work in the factory to help her family.
Ana also faces me vs. society dilemma. She feels trapped by societal norms and beauty standards and wants to break out of them and educate the women.
When Ana gets more accepted into the factory she also starts to have feelings of hatred towards the company that hired them to make the dresses because of their threats against Estela and refusal to pay. This is another me vs. another person.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
All the women are watching La Migra and worrying that they are going to get raided, but then they remember they are all legal. This is when they first learn of Estella still be illegal.
When Rosali faints it causes the deadline to get tenser and it becomes apparent that every woman in the factory is important, but it also helps show the real familial bond between the women as Estela and Rosali worry for each other.
At the end of the play when all the women strip down is when we really get a peek into the women and how they feel about each other, their lives, and their dreams of opening up a boutique. All this information comes out in less than five pages.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The numbers on the birthday cake --
This helps to hold on to the idea of breaking out of societal norms. It shows that age is but a number, and someone can beautiful no matter the number of their age, or even their weight, size, etc.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
-The plight of the undocumented worker and business owner
-Breaking out of societal norms and beauty standards for women
-The love and importance of family
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
This whole play is really about family, their allegiance, and love for each other, and growing to understand each other. The people who work together in that shop are family, and as it goes on we get to see them start to understand each other, namely Ana learning to appreciate all the work the women put into making the dresses and the importance behind this. It helps them become closer before Ana leaves.